May, 2000

Guidelines for Productive Meetings

How to make better use of resources, time, money, energy, and people.

Last month Ken Wiesner told us whatever the problem, love is the answer. The municipality's guidelines for meetings help put this into action. Thanks to Daryl Birtch at Pitt Meadows for sharing them with us.

Meeting Guidelines
By honouring these guidelines I can expect our meetings to be far more efficient and effective.  This means we will make better use of our resources, of our time, money, energy, and people.  This leads to reduced stress and frustration and increased satisfaction and fulfillment for us all.

* I will stay focused on the purpose and topic at hand.
* I will listen! Listen! Then hear! Hear! Hear!
* I will support only one person to speak at a time.
* I will check my ego at the door.
* I will challenge ideas, not people, to make them work.
* I will agree with others only if I truly mean it.
* I will be honest and direct I won’t buy my or others’ B.S.
* I will make decisions and take a stand on issues.
* I won’t procrastinate pass the buck or ask for unnecessary reports.
* I will arrive on time ready for work.
* I will pay attention to the energy in the room.
* I will say what I need to say.

Use these guidelines and continue to find ways to make them work. Support each other to use them — make them a habit.

Purpose Statement

Together, we are dedicated to inspiring and  delivering excellence in team leadership!

I WILL LIVE OUR PURPOSE BY

* Communicating directly, concisely, honestly and with respect
* Listening to make others right
* Supporting others to stay committed by being committed to myself
* Becoming informed
* Developing myself beyond my comfort zones
* Encouraging and supporting different points of view
* Recognizing our team is as important as our results
* Recognizing and appreciating all contributions
* Using humour we all can enjoy
* Being open minded and being open to change and improve
* Celebrating success
* Focusing on results and learning from them
* Using failures as a learning tool
* Speaking for myself I will not speak for others
* Being in service to others
* Using our purpose everyday and honouring these expectations
* How will you reinforce, support and encourage each other to honour your expectations?

If we all followed these guidelines in meetings and in life we would truly transform the planet! Thanks for your comments on the last story everyone. Several of you said love may inspire creativity but so does irritation. How true! Please keep sending me your feedback, and anecdotes.  

Happy creating!
Linda Naiman